Unconditional, unconditionally

I will love you unconditionally

There is no fear now

Let go and just be free

I will love you unconditionally

Come just as you are to me

Don't need apologies

Know that you are worthy

I'll take your bad days with your good

Walk through the storm I would

I do it all because I love you, I love you

(Katy Paty; Unconditionally Lyrics)

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Unedited

"Oh my God, this is awesome.. Really? As in Paolo Guidoni?" Adriana was so surprised with her best friend's shocking news. It's funny because Paolo hated her as far as she remembers, and so Francine.

"I know. Now, we are dating. I hope you're ok with that," Francine trailed of.

"Oh God, of course. I'm happy that you two realized that you likes each other.. oh in the end hoping you two realize you love each other." Adriana chuckled excitedly. She noticed Nicolas trudging up the stairs and she just ignored him.

"Thank you Addy." Francine responded and judging by her voice, Addy knew her best friends is gushing..

"I'll call you later again Addy. I'll prepare now. He's going to be here in few hours, we are going to watch a movie and have dinner together.." Francine squealed dreamily like a teenager and Adriana chuckled.

"Alright. Have fun!" Addy said smilingly and Francine ended the call.

Adriana place her phone on the coffee table before heading to the kitchen. She suddenly felt thirsty.

Adriana change her heels first with flip flops, then she headed to the kitchen.

She saw her mother washing some vegetables.

"I'm glad you and Nicolas are getting along well now. Please do it for Nicolai. He needs a father. And don't act too immature, honey. Nicolas is a nice guy and I think he loves you." Mikaela told her daughter and carried the basin with tomatoes to the table and she sat and started chopping it.

Adriana sat across her with her glass as she fiddled with her glass.

"I need more time mama. I don't want to get hurt again," Addy heaved a sighed and felt the familiar pain again. She was happy that Nicolas was doing all this things for her, even tolerating her immature actions.

She wish to hear that words she's been waiting, but he never said it.

Adriana downed the whole content of her water and Mikaela watch her with sympathy.

"The poor man was serious Addy. I know he loves you." Mikaela insisted trying to make her daughter see sense. She's been blinded with her grudges. She knew that Addy could hold a grudge for a long time and she felt sorry for Nicolas.

"I know, but I can't decide right now. I need some more time." Addy stubbornly insisted and Mikaela didn't say a word. What Addy doesn't know, she'll get it sooner.

Addy and Mikaela dropped the topic and Adriana opened up about Paolo and Francine. What she didn't know her parents knew about it.

They didn't tell her because they don't know how will she react.

After a while Adriana decided to go get change and just hang out with her mother or Nicolas at home. She excitedly paced up to the stairs to her room when she met Nicolas on the hallway just as she was about to turn right to her room.

Then she noticed her luggage he's effortlessly carrying. Her heart suddenly picking up speed. She shooks off the thought thinking he might just go to his hotel and get some clothes or whatever, just to make her feel happy.

.

.

"Hi." Suddenly, the air became awkward.

Nicolas place the luggage down and close their gap. He shoved his hands in his pockets, trying to stop himself from pulling her closer to him. His tears is threatening to fall.

Adriana looks at him in confusion and something that Nicolas couldn't put his finger on, but he doesn't want to expect too much. He had decided to give her some space and be back to claim her back when she's ready.

"I need to go back to Athens. Demetrio needed my attention with the problems arising with our restaurants in the US. I will be back when you're ready." Nicolas uttered passionately. Then, he reach for her. She didn't step back or protested. When he wrap his hands around her, she hugs him back.

"I'm sorry for all the things I've done. I hope when I come back, you find in your heart to forgive me. I will leave you for now and Nicolai, although it hurt me so much.. but I know you need some space. I promise, I'll be back moro mou." Nicolas kissed her forehead, before he releases her with a lone tear escape his eyes. He just picks up his luggage and left swiftly and didn't look back. First he doesn't want her to see him crying, and secondly, he might take his words back and stay.

Nicolas didn't bother to say goodbye to Mikaela or Sergio or to his son. It's going to be hard for him to leave if he will. He just comforted himself to come back and claim them back. For now, he'll give her the space she needed.

Just as Nicolas walks out the door, the limo just arrive.

Lorenzo help him carry his luggage.

Nicolas called Christian, and his flight back to Athens was set. In an hour.

The whole ride to his hotel was tormenting. He was zoned out the whole time. His heart was left behind and so his mind. He knew it is going to be challenging to work without thinking about her, about Adriana.

.

.

Back to the De Luca house.

Just as Nicolas turned his back heading to the stairs, Adriana felt her tears streaming down her cheeks. He didn't even look back. He just headed straight to the door.

Adriana ran to her room and locked herself. She lay flat on her belly on her bed and let the tears flow freely like a pouring rain.

She thought her heart stops from beating. She's broken. Even though he promise to come back, she doesn't want to believe he will. She doesn't want to expect again and then it won't happen.

"I love you.. Why can't you say it if you really mean it? Damn you Nicolas! Damn you!" Adriana cried out more as she punch her bed hardly, feeling like he was punching him.

"Why it has to be him? Why did you make me fall hard to him, and then make him leave me? Why?" Adriana said weakly as she sobbed incessantly.

"Do I deserve this? Did I do something to deserve to feel this pain?" she continued as she weakly wipe her tears occasionally, but the damn tears never stops.

You know when you feel like you wanted to stops the stupid heart from beating? That's what Adriana wants to happen at the moment, but that's the real meaning of life. To face the consequences of every action.

Her heart that feels like it was ripped apart, broken senselessly, the feeling of worse among the worst emotional pain you could ever feel in your life, and Adriana thought she doesn't deserve to feel such pain.

Like is unfair, indeed.

Time had passed and Adriana stops throwing hissy fits, and she felt like her dam of tears is completely drained. She got up and didn't care about her bed cover soak with her tears. She just ran the area with her eyes briefly and walked to her washroom thinking to clean herself.

Just as she saw herself on the mirror, her mascara was all around her eyes, making her look like a zombie, and ugly zombie, red puffy eyes, her lips are chopped.. She looks ugly.

She chuckled softly like a bitter bitch.

Then again, she tasted her salty tears now streaming again over her cheeks.

Love has always a price. It's either happy or sad. That's what she thought..

.

.

A month later..

Demetrio was sitting across Nicolas who was now staring blankly to him. Demetrio felt bad for his friend. Since he back from Italy a month ago, he was restless and after work he's zoned out. He looks like he age ten years more. His stubbles are long, not very long, but long for him to be surprised to see him growing his beard, and he knew why. He looks sleepless and always brooding.

He had fired three secretaries in a span of a month and now he has to look another new one. Demetrio told Kurt to stop giving him a secretary because nothing will last, unless he's back to his normal self. He cave. He never stops working. From the time he was up, and then when he's passed out with whiskey.

Demetrio's heart clenched at the sight of him. He is really stubborn man. Although, Demetrio is happy because the issues in their restaurant had been solved since he started participating with the solutions being presented by their directors. But knowing him as the genius head of their business, he had proposed a genius solution and now, the restaurants is back in it's glory.

The whole time they were working on the issues, Nicolas made more enemies inside their building, in their company. Ninety percent or more are either afraid of him or hated him.

.

.

Nicolas didn't care how his employees felt about him. He didn't care about his surroundings. He didn't care about how he looks like, even how many times Demetrio told him to at least shave. Even if he had told him that he ages ten years older.

He didn't care for his life now. It's been a month of torture, of living a hellish life, of going home to their mansion empty and cold, of living with a hallow heart, living in pain and tears.

He felt like a walking robot everyday, numb and operated by the responsibilities he was expected to do.

"I'm done Nick! I'm done watching you grieving.. You look like hell and you're worst than a grieving wife for his dead husband." Demetrio's snappy tone dragged him back to reality. He just gave him a glance like 'oh-yeah-you're-there'.

Demetrio shot him a disparaging look. "Dammit Nick. Go back and claim her. It's been a month."

Nicolas shook his head. "I didn't get a call from her. Maybe she needs more time.." He foolishly said with a breaking heart.

"Seriously? Waiting for her to call you? Where is the persistent bull-headed Nick I know?" Demetrio complained as he shook his head incredulously.

Nicolas just look through him, blankly.

"Dammit Nick! Don't wait for her to call you. If you do, you're dead by then, she's still waiting.. Go and get your family. She loves you moron.. I don't know why I believe you're genius.. Man you're so shallow!" Demetrio grumbled under his throat as he looks up the ceiling trying to calm his temper. He's feeling annoyed now on how his best friend was acting.

"What if she's not ready yet?" Nicolas uttered lost and unsure.

"Does she know you love her? Have you told her?" Demetrio's eyebrow slowly furrowing in curiosity.

"I don't remember telling her, but she should get it with all the things I've done for her. I've crossed my limits." Nicolas explained as he stared at exasperated Nick.

"Dammit! Man, women doesn't think like us. They don't care how much things you've done for them. Even if you gave your life.. They need words. Sometimes, I thought they believe words more than actions." Demetrio leaned over Nicolas' desk as he explained it further to him with his palm resting to his desk.

Demetrio never thought he would talk to Nicolas like this, like a senior... like he knew more than he does. It usually the other way around. Not that he lacks in brain, it's just that Nicolas bears more authority in him than Demetrio.

Nicolas realized he was right. He stood up and gave Demetrio a grateful look and he strode to his door with a spring under his sole.

"And oh.. Don't forget to shave and look nice when you see her. You don't want her to turn off when she sees you like that. You look like a billion-dollar bummer." Demetrio chuckled and Nicolas for the first time laughed.

"Thanks buddy." Nicolas agreed and about to turned back on his heel out of his office when Demetrio spoke again.

"And oh.. I'll call your pilot. Just go get ready and leave soon." Demetrio dismissed and Nicolas thank him again before hastily left the place to his penthouse. He felt exuberant for the first time in a month.

He just hope, this time it will work. He's going to confessed to her...

.

.

Adriana had been a worst to talk for the whole month since Nicolas left. Her health deteriorated and started a week ago, she felt weak and had the worst feelings. She always throw up, but she never went to the doctor. She was afraid to find out she's going to die soon.

She had lost weight and her parents was so worried. Nicolai was always bugging them about Nicolas and they only told him he's been at work and busy and he will be in his birthday, but Adriana wasn't sure if he's going to show up.

She decided to call him when her son's birthday is close. He has to be there or Nicolai would be upset.

Adriana felt her another aching or a tightening in the lower abdomen, and then her upper thighs, or sometimes in her lower back. It's been two days. She sat on the couch in the living room to relax her muscles. She's been in the garden as she did some pulling of weeds.

When Nicolas left, after a week, she found something to do to completely forget him, by gardening.

She thought for the past weeks, she had been overworked that she feels this strange feelings and sometimes it scares her.

Mikaela walked into the door from the neighbour and she looks worried when she saw Adriana winching, with her face looking disgruntled or disoriented.

"Are you alright, figlia?" she asked in Italian.

"I just feel tightening in my lower abdomen mama. This should go away after a while," she force a weak smile, but it seems it's getting more and more painful.

"I told you to bring you to the doctor. You look sick and you lost a lot of weight.." Mikaela's troubled voice made her realized that she's right.

She felt like going to the washroom. And yeah, that's always her problem.. She goes to the washroom more than she does in a day.

"Mom, I need help to the washroom" she said as she tried to stand, but her legs was aching.

Mikaela quickly helped her to get up and assists her to the washroom not father from the backdoor and help her to pulled her shorts and underwear down and sit on the toilet bowl.

"Let me know when you're done." Mikaela closed the door behind her as she left Adriana privately.

Adriana peed and she felt something a hot lump flowing out of her private member, instead of a pee. With a furrowed forehead, she looked down on the toilet bowl awkwardly and her eyes widened in fear, before she screamed.

A large bean shape blackish brown glob was on the toilet bowl with some blood and it smelled horrible.

"Mamaaaaaa..."

Mikaela quickly got inside and saw her pale daughter with her eyes filled with fear..

"Oh my God, you're pregnant.. No, No.... I hope that's not your baby, honey. Let's take you to the doctor.." Mikaela shrieked and Adriana's face became paler. When she stood up and Mikaela help her cleaned up, she felt her whole body aching and the cramps she felt became potent.

When her mother's words sunk in her head, she felt light headed.

Miscarriage? She lost her baby?

Noo.... she wanted to screamed, but nothing came out from her mouth.. She looks frozen and Mikaela became more worried.

"Sergio...." Mikaela called out from the top of her lungs.. She was now shaky as she holds her weak pale body of her child.

"What?" Her husband said as he trudge down to their direction.

Then Adriana felt numb and she lost consciousness as soon as she felt her father's hand on her back.

.

.

Nicolas looks at his reflection in the mirror and he looks younger again. He practice a smile since he felt like he doesn't know anymore, since the whole month, a brooding disgruntled face has been glued to his face.

Nicolas quickly wraps all his things up, everything he needed because he felt he's going to stay longer in Italy, then he bounce out of his room with his big luggage.

He's going to buy a basket of roses for Adriana and a dozens of chocolates, he made a mental note.

Alfred was smiling when he saw his boss with his big luggage. He just hope, he'll find his happiness this time. A month is like a lifetime suffering from his brooding boss.

After like a decade, finally Nicolas smelled the aroma of Italy's breeze. The plane landed and Nicolas couldn't wait to get off.

As soon as the plane's engine stops, he quickly made his way to the exit door. After thanking his crew, he disembark and headed to his loyal chauffeur and security, Alesso and Lorenzo. He's going to give them a raise, he made a mental note again.

"Welcome back to Florence, Mr. Petropoulis." Alesso and Lorenzo chorused in their thick accent.

"Thank you," he smiled. "Did you get what I asked for?" Nicolas asked them and they both nodded. It's inside the limo, Sir." Lorenzo nodded as he inclined his head towards the open limo.

He thank them again then he slip inside the limo. He smiled when he was welcomed with the sweet scent of the red and white roses and chocolates.

The ride felt like centuries for Nicolas. He couldn't wait to get there. He was ecstatic and at the same time terrified.

What if she realized she doesn't love him?

Nicolas shook the thoughts off and determined to face her, being the man this time. If he needs to cut her stubbornness he will. If he has to black mail her, he will.

Finally, the limo parked right in front of their house and Nicolas opened the limo door without waiting for his crew. He is obviously excited.. He took the baskets of roses and the chocolates and walked to the gate, then he punch the doorbell.

~~~~~~~~

A/N: Damn, cliffhangers... lol

Ok, ok, relax readersss.. this is going to end soon.. so hang on...

Please don't forget to vote and comment. I hope to see this book in the hotlist..

Thank you and I love you all!

Let me know what do you think of this chapter!!

And oh, this is a rough draft. It took me two hours to build this chapter... so if you see any mistakes, just ignore it.. Just like the other chapters, they are not perfect, since I just keep on typing then published.. lol.

I'll go through it and check the little issues.. For now, enjoy the chapter..